Boston woman stops man who allegedly flashed her on train

A Boston woman, who asked not to be identified by name, single-handedly grabbed a man by his collar and held him until police arrived after she says he exposed himself to her on a crowded Boston train during Thursday’s commute.

Michael Galvin was arrested on Wednesday night by Boston Transit Police after the woman he allegedly exposed himself to detained him until police arrived.
(MyFoxBoston)

A Boston woman single-handedly grabbed a man by his collar and held him until police arrived after she says he exposed himself to her on a crowded Boston train during Thursday’s commute, MyFoxBoston.com reported.

The woman, who asked not to be identified, said she tried to move away from Michael Galvin, the accused flasher, but he followed her. She told the Boston Herald that she zoned out, listening to music, only to look up and see him standing over her.

“I looked up and felt awkward, so I looked down,” she said. She said the man was exposing and touching himself, but tried to cover himself with his shirt.

The woman, 24, yelled, but fellow passengers did not react, she said. So she said she went into “She-Hulk” mode and lunged off the train at the man, held him by his sweat shirt and called police.

“I don’t know how I held on to him,” she said. “Because he really tried to pull away and I was just holding on with one hand.” The alleged flasher told the woman that he’s sick and needs help, she said.

The Herald reports that the man told police that his shorts fell off because of the “packed and jostling” trolley, according to a police report. He reportedly told police that he was unaware he was exposed until the woman started screaming.

Galvin was charged with open and gross lewdness. He was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to be back in court on May 30. He faces up to three years in prison if found guilty.